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powerDOWN with equiwatt

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Introducing powerDOWN events

Part of the National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service

 Our free app is the easiest way for you and others across the UK to collectively make a difference to the planet, our energy system and your finances.

With powerDOWN events, we reward you for using less electricity during the busiest times of the day via our free app.

Our app is independent of any energy supplier so anyone can join.

All you need to take part is a connected smart meter with half-hourly readings.

Can I take part?

To take part in our powerDOWN events all you will need to do is:

  • Download the FREE equiwatt app from either the Apple App or Google Play Store.

  • Have an electricity smart meter that sends regular half-hourly readings* so we know how much energy you normally use and how many points to award you.

    *TIP: You can check if you have a compatible smart meter by using Citizen Advice's free smart meter checker

    PLEASE NOTE: You can only sign up to one Registered DFS Participant at a time. If you sign up for another Registered DFS Participant's program after joining powerDOWN events you will become ineligible to participate in powerDOWN events.

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How does it work?

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  1. Respond to notifications
    We will tell you when a powerDOWN event is happening with as much notice as we can (usually the day before) via a notification from the app and an email. Make sure to have app notifications turned on.
  2. Opt into events
    You will need to confirm your participation in each powerDOWN event by opting in via the app to take part in the event and earn points. Can't take part? No problem, simply opt out.
  3. Reduce your electricity usage
    During the event, try to use less electricity than you would normally at that time. We call this typical usage your forecast. Check the app for your forecast (or expected usage) and make sure you use less than this. See more info and tips below.
  4. Earn rewards for doing your bit
    Your smart meter will let us know how much electricity you have saved and we will work out how many points you have earned for using less than normal. The less electricity you use compared to normal during an event the more points you will earn!

Why equiwatt?

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No minimum energy reduction required

Unlike other providers, we never set a minimum reduction requirement you must meet to get rewarded. equiwatt users earn points for every bit of electricity they save in powerDOWN events.

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Any energy supplier customer can take part

We are independent of energy suppliers so anyone with a smart meter and half-hourly reading can choose to take part with equiwatt regardless of who your supplier is. 

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Our free app helps you never miss an event

Thanks to our easy-to-use app, you will always know when the next powerDOWN event is going to take place and be able to quickly opt in or out. There is no need to check your emails!

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Earn points and redeem for rewards you want

Earn points by participating in powerDOWN events and using less electricity than normal. Redeem your points for a range of high street eGift vouchers and charity donations.

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Make a difference to your wallet

By taking part in powerDOWN events you will gain a better understanding of your typical electricity usage which will help you to cut down on wastage and help to lower your bills.

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Support a greener energy system

Help reduce the need to use traditional fossil fuel power stations to meet demand alongside others across the country by using less electricity at the busiest times of the day.

Download the app today

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This is a really amazing app to help you become more accountable for energy use and get rewarded in the process. It’s a slow burner but worth it in the end

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App Store Review

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I have earned 5000 points which I have redeemed for £50 worth of vouchers from well-known national and international retailers. Make way for a cleaner grid with equiwatt!

DT Dudkamp

Google Play Review

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This app is great, I signed up during the winter for the DFS events but have stayed on since. It's helped out reducing my energy usage and I can cash out vouchers to reduce the cost of my food shop - win win!

Gerald P

Google Play Review

FAQs

How will it work?

Why should I choose powerDOWN events over another provider?

The equiwatt community have been pioneering peak time energy saving for more than 3 years, running 300+ events in that time.

This means we have a lot of experience on how to make getting rewarded for using less electricity as simple, easy and rewarding as possible. 

As an independent provider, you do not need to be with a specific energy supplier to benefit from our free app. This means that no matter who provides your energy, you will always be able to take part in powerDOWN events.

Unlike some other schemes, we don't rely on sending you emails to let you know about events or wait until the end of the month to send you your rewards and savings.

Our app enables you to get rewarded and see your savings and impact as soon as your smart meter readings are available (usually within 48 hours).

Our gamified approach to energy saving also means that we aim to make using less electricity fun and rewarding by enabling you to compete in monthly leaderboards and win prizes.

How will powerDOWN events work?

You will receive a notification via the app in advance of each powerDOWN event to let you know when it is going to happen.

1) If you want to take part in the event you will need to confirm your participation in the app.

2) During the event, you will need to use less electricity than normal by beating your forecast shown in the app.

3) You will get rewarded in points by reducing your energy use. You can earn entries to our monthly prize draw to win 2000 points (worth £20) by registering what you have switched off in the app. You can find out how to do this here.

4) Typically within 48 hours of the event ending, we will let you know how much energy you have saved and how many points you have earned.

How do I participate in powerDOWN events?

When a powerDOWN event starts, you will receive a notification:

1) Switch off as many electric appliances as it is safe to and avoid turning high-usage appliances on.

2) Check your forecast in the equiwatt app to make sure you know how much electricity we expect you to use and what you have to beat so that you are using less. 

TIP: Check your In-Home Display (IHD) unit to make sure that you are going below your forecast.

3) Once the event has ended we will send you another notification so that you know when you can start using your appliances again.

4) As soon as we have received readings from your smart meter we will automatically award your points (this is typically with 48 hours) and let you know how much electricity you have saved in the app.

How will I know powerDOWN events are happening?

Notifications for powerDOWN events will be sent via the app in advance of the event happening (so make sure to have notifications switched on). We will give you as much notice as we can, usually the day before but it may only be a few hours before, it will depend on how much notice ESO gives us.

Do I need to opt-in to every powerDOWN event?

If you want to earn points for reducing your electricity usage during a powerDOWN event then you will need to confirm your participation in the app before each event, so that we know you are planning to take part.

If you don't confirm your participation then you will not be able to earn any points even if you use less electricity.

What happens if I don't opt-in or out of a powerDOWN event?

If you forget to opt-in or out of a powerDOWN event then you will not be able to earn points.

We can only let you participate if you opt-in and let us know that you are going to take part. If you do nothing then we will assume that you don't wish to take part on this occasion.

Do I have to take part in every powerDOWN event?

You can take part in as many or as few powerDOWN events as you like.

If you do not wish to participate, simply opt out in the app when you receive a notification of an upcoming powerDOWN event.

However, if you want to earn points for reducing your electricity usage during powerDOWN events then you will need to confirm your participation in the app before each event, so we know that you want to take part.

What time of day will powerDOWN events happen?

powerDOWN events could happen at any time of day.

However, the timing of the events will be based on when the grid needs help.

This is typically during the busiest or 'peak' times of day when the energy system needs to generate more power to meet everyone's needs. For example, between 4-7 pm.

How many powerDOWN events will there be?

It is hard to give an exact number for how many powerDOWN events there will be in total as it will depend on how many events ESO decide to run in order to support the needs of the electrical grid.

However, we do know that there will be at least 12 events this winter and that they will be run for between 1 - 2 hours each time.

Is there anything that I shouldn't do to save electricity?

Please do not do anything dangerous that could pose a risk to you or anyone else's health.

For example:

  • Don't turn off medical equipment or similar devices.
  • Don't swap using your kitchen appliances for a BBQ or open flame in your house.
  • Do not switch off the heating in cold weather if it is going to cause you or someone else to become uncomfortable.

Smart meters

Do I need a smart meter to take part in powerDOWN events?

You will need a working electric smart meter and half-hourly readings enabled to take part so we can verify how much energy you’ve managed to save.

What if I don't have a smart meter?

If you do not have an electric smart meter then unfortunately, you will not be able to take part in powerDOWN events.

You can find out how to request one from your energy supplier here.

powerDOWN events will be running throughout winter, so once your smart meter has been installed you should be eligible to take part.

Do I need an in-home display (IHD) to take part?

As long as you have a connected electric smart meter and half-hourly readings enabled you can take part.

Please note: Your in-home display (IHD) is different to your smart meter. Your IHD is the little screen that sits on a shelf in your house and displays your energy usage info.

My IHD is broken, can I take part?

As long as you have a connected electric smart meter and half-hourly readings enabled you can take part.

Even if you do not have an IHD or it is broken, you can check your energy usage in the equiwatt app or if applicable in your energy suppliers app.

What happens if you can't take a reading from my smart meter during a powerDOWN event?

If an external issue means that we are unable to retrieve readings from your smart meter during a powerDOWN event that you have opted into, we won't know how much you have saved.

If that happens we will be unable to award you any points for that event.

If we stop getting regular readings from your smart meter, that might prevent you from taking part in any further powerDOWN events. 

In this instance you may need to contact your supplier to see if there is something wrong with your smart meter.

What happens if my smart meter stops connecting completely?

If your smart meter stops working at any point after you have joined powerDOWN events, please get in touch with us and we will do all we can to help you resolve the issue.

In some circumstances, your smart meter may need to be fixed by your electricity provider as they are responsible for the maintenance and repair of your smart meter.

This is something that you will need to resolve directly with them.

If we are unable to get regular readings from your smart meter, that might prevent you from taking part in any further powerDOWN events until the issue has been resolved. 

Why do smart meter readings sometimes go missing?

We typically get 48 readings from a smart meter every day, one reading for every 30 minutes of the day.

On some occasions, we are unable to retrieve readings for the specific time that a powerDOWN event has been run. This doesn't mean that your smart meter has become disconnected from our system.

This generally happens due to a brief outage caused by your meter unit losing power for a second or a drop in signal.

As your meter uses a network to send data, there can occasionally be issues where readings are not sent.

When this happens we will try our best to retrieve the readings. However, if this is not possible then it might mean that you are unable to earn points as we will not be able to work out how much electricity you saved.

Rewards

What are points for powerDOWN events worth?

There is no complicated conversion rate when it comes to points. Every point earned from a powerDOWN event is worth 1p.

Or to put it another way, 100 points are worth £1.00.

How do points for powerDOWN events work?

When powerDOWN events happen, you will need to use less electricity at home compared to normal. We refer to this as beating your forecast.

Your forecast is the amount of electricity that we expect you to use at the period that the event is running and is displayed in the app during an event.

If you use less electricity than compared to normal (e.g. beat your forecast) you will earn points. The more you beat your forecast by, the more points you will earn!

You can get some help working out how much electricity your appliances use by taking a look at the centre for sustainable energy's website.

How much could I earn for taking part in powerDOWN events?

The short answer is that it is hard to say but you could earn points up to the value of £3 per kilowatt hour*.

You will earn points per kilowatt hour for all the electricity that you don't use during a powerDOWN event in comparison to your forecast, or what we expect you to use based on previous days.

There should be at least 12 events run by ESO as part of their Demand Flexibility Service this winter, with each event lasting between 1 and 2 hours.

However, it is hard to say exactly how much you could earn overall as it depends on a lot of different factors.

For example, how many events there are, how long they are and how much ESO pays for each session.

There are also other factors such as how many events you choose to take part in, how much electricity you save and whether you win any of our prizes.

*Including prize draws and bonus points.

Download the free app today

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